Surgical positioning is to facilitate the surgeon's technical approach while balancing risk factors. Surgical techniques have been expanded by the flexibility provided by anesthesia methodology, so that new areas of the body have become accessible and new positions have been developed. All surgical positions carry some degree of position-related risk; these risks are increased in the anesthetized patient, who cannot make the clinician aware of compromised positions. The goal of providing the best surgical exposure is always balanced by the need to minimize the risk to the patient.

A List of Surgical Positions

1. Durant's position
2. Fowler's position
   Fowler's position
   In medicine, Fowler's position is a standard patient position. It is used to relax tension of the abdominal muscles, allowing for improved breathing in immobile patients as it alleviates compression of the chest due to gravity, and to increase comfort during eating and other activities. It is also...
   
   
3. Left lateral decubitus position
4. Lithotomy position
   Lithotomy position
   The lithotomy position is a medical term referring to a common position for surgical procedures and medical examinations involving the pelvis and lower abdomen, as well as a common position for childbirth in Western nations...
   
   
5. Lloyd-Davies position
   Lloyd-Davies position
   Lloyd-Davies position is a medical term referring to a common position for surgical procedures involving the pelvis and lower abdomen. The majority of colorectal and pelvic surgery is conducted with the patient in the Lloyd-Davis position....
   
   
6. Prone position
   Prone position
   The term means to lie on bed or ground in a position with chest downwards and back upwards.-Etymology :The word "prone," meaning "naturally inclined to something, apt, liable," has been recorded in English since 1382; the meaning "lying face-down" was first recorded in 1578, but is also referred to...
   
   
7. Right lateral decubitus position
8. Reverse Trendelenburg position
9. Sims' position
10. Supine position
    Supine position
    The supine position is a position of the body: lying down with the face up, as opposed to the prone position, which is face down, sometimes with the hands behind the head or neck. When used in surgical procedures, it allows access to the peritoneal, thoracic and pericardial regions; as well as the...
    
    
11. Trendelenburg position
    Trendelenburg position
    In the Trendelenburg position the body is laid flat on the back with the feet higher than the head by 15-30 degrees, in contrast to the reverse Trendelenburg position, where the body is tilted in the opposite direction. This is a standard position used in abdominal and gynecological surgery...